I love handmade Christmas decorations, but I hardly had any that were made by my own hands…until now…
I think I meant to make this felted garland last year…but I never got around to it. (That’s a familiar tune around here this time of year.) It was not *quite* as quick and easy as I had hoped, but that’s probably due, in part, to my perfectionism rearing it’s ugly head halfway through this thing. That’s not to say that it was difficult, by any means. I just added some extra steps.
I used about 1.5 oz. wool roving in several colors, and got about 48 balls out of it. I needed two pairs of stockings to tie up the roving, and used the washing machine technique for felting. The problem was that wherever the stocking gathered between knots, it created a crease in the felted ball. I wound up with 48 little brightly colored…fannies (which you can sort of see in the bowl in the photo below). Ahem. So I hauled my fanny to the craft store and bought some needle felting tools. I’d only tried needle felting once, at a sheep and wool festival, but that little demo provided me with all the knowledge I needed for this project i.e., stabstabstabstabstabstabstab…
I arranged the various felted balls in a perfectly random pattern (I know, I have a problem), and used a natural, twine-colored worsted weight yarn to string them.
I love the handmade touch they add to my mantle.
Your mantle is stunning! I just made a bunch of felted balls as well (by hand…I must look into the washing machine method because I just about went crazy) and mine also had a “fanny” shape. Oops. Great idea needle felting them into a more appropriate form!
I absolutely love it and feel the need to make some myself….unless you want to send me yours. 🙂
wow, it turned out so well! just gorgeous.
I love your mantle.
Very cute! I love the end result, and finessing the felted balls into shape looks like it worked perfectly.
Wow, I adore it! I want one just like it, pleaeeeaaaase??? 😉
Nice garland. It has some seussical whimsy to your Christmas decorations.
Perfecto! My balls are in the washing machine right now; I can only hope that the fannies don’t drive me crazy, too!
What a novel idea to make garland. One year I decorated my tree with balls made in a stocking that had been twirled and beaten by my son. It took him about an hour to make each. What a discovery make then in the washing machine. By the way I still have them and they were made in 1986. Your chosen colors are so lively and fresh looking. Love them!!!!!
love it! so simple and so charming 🙂 Great mantel!!
[…] Cutest handmade holiday decorations […]
[…] This is great if you are talking about small shapes like beads or smaller (soft-ish) forms like the pompom-esque garland on small bird blog (this garland is a really great example of 3-dimensional felting using only the roving and I love […]
[…] found the garland in this old post from December 2009 on the Small Bird […]
so pretty! we have linked to you here!
http://commonthreadskingston.blogspot.com/2010/10/christmas-plans-and-and-giveaway.html
simple, and charming. i really like the felted garland! 🙂
[…] a gorgeous felted garland tutorial from […]
Hello,
That turned out beautiful. I make them the easy lazy way with roving, soap, and hot water. It’s done in a fraction of the time. Google it if you’ve never tried making it this way.
Blessings,
Shelley
ROCK ON, ABSOLUTELY STELLAR! AM ORDERING IN THE FELT POMS POMS NOW FOR A MULTIFAMILY FRIENDS AND KIDS CRAFT IN NOVEMBER! GOD BLESS! YOU HAVE BLESSED ME AND SO MANY MANY OTHERS OUT THERE! ~ JENNIFER
I do not know much about wool. Can some elaborate on how the balls are made? I would love to do this!!!
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Absolutely love this idea! Beautiful job!! I’d love to do this in a bunch of colors for all the seasons. Never a bad time for pom poms 🙂 TFS
Saw this on Tatertots and Jello and just wanted to come over and let you know how adorable this is!
I love this garland! Approx what size pom poms did you make?
[…] Felted Ball Garland via Small Bird Blog […]
How did you get the balls strung on the twine? Or did you felt the balls onto the twine? Mine seem too hard to get the twine through. Any ideas?
Okay, I figured it out. You can insert a toothpick in during the felting phase. When you remove the toothpick, you have a hole to string on the twine. I am placing some cute little silver Pottery Barn frames (meant to be Christmas Ornaments) into some of the spaces between poms. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love your photos! Any tips would be gratefully received – I feel like the pics on my blog are a bit flat 😦
Love the garland, but WHERE did you get those stockings?!?! I’ve been looking for some like those but not having any luck.
Where do I find the instructions to make these?
[…] My mantle is taking it’s que from this look and feel … photo credit here. […]
I have never heard of this type of craft! It looks amazing! Can you give me a little more detail on the whole process?
where did you get your wool roving from? i love the colors you chose but i cannot find the same mix anywhere online or in stores. thanks!
Yes, I’d love to hear the answer to this! I was looking on etsy and found “Nada”! Would love to know! Have a group of nine ladies making this with me at a party with kids! Big deal needing big info! smiles. thanks a ton!
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Thanks for the lovely comments! Since this post is now 2 years old, I’m sorry I don’t have the info on where I got my materials. The roving came from some online craft store. I did link to the instructions I followed in the post. You can find more info here: http://www.purlbee.com/festive-felted-garland/
{{{WOW}}} This looks absolutely gorgeous! I’m nearly a professional felter so I’d like to offer up some information to your readers….
The washing machine method will leave you with creases but that’s ok! After they come out, you can add a little bit of roving and needle felt it onto the ball to smooth and hide any imperfections. Then just roll them between your palms with hot soapy water. Of course, lumpy balls are fun too.
To thread the balls on the twine you need a super sharp needle but it should go through pretty easily.
Craft stores have very little in the needle felting section. The tool you’re using in the picture is made by Clover and it’s a gem. You can certainly felt without the tool as long as you have a needle – just wrap the needle with rubber band to give yourself an easier grip. I personally prefer a foam pad but basically you need these things to get started…. A couple of needles (they do break), a felting pad or felting foam, and roving in fun colors.
xx
The Wool Acorn
I can’t do the felting but I’m thinking this will look adorable with tiny balls of yarn too.
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[…] pom pom garland seems a little complex, but I love the final result. And I think you could simplify it and come up […]
I love it too! It so complements the craftmans style of your home
[…] These pom-poms were everywhere in the 60s and I love this take on a garland from Small Bird. […]
Love the felted wool garland, I just plain love wool.
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I would LOVE to do this for my mantle this year. BUT, I am clueless on what this felting process is and all the other stuff 🙂 Can someone send me a link on how to do this and what everyone is talking about?? Thanks!!!! 🙂
[…] off my 32 Before 32 list (hopefully), I have some other fun projects planned, such as making a pom-pom garland, and trying out this baked […]
dear small bird,
initially your pom pom garland lured me in….and THEN i saw your gorgeous brick charcoal gray fireplace! so in love. i have an unfinished fireplace in need of the perfect thing. i think i found it in your post! will you share how you achieved the look? is it stained? painted? fingers crossed that you know and you didn’t just happen upon it that way 🙂
please tell me what you know!
thanks much!!!
julie
julieflatley@yahoo.com
Sorry…it was like that when I moved in!
[…] complex A few of my favorite garlands from around the web. Sources: 1. Twisted Felt Garland 2. Felted Garland 3. Scalloped Fabric Garland 4. Tassel Garland 5. 3D Bauble […]
[…] my love affair with felt. […]
[…] Kindling/Pom-pom garland/ […]
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[…] {original pinterest link – felted garland} […]
[…] love this felt garland by Small Bird Blog. If I could just find the time to make it myself, it would fit perfect into my casual and whimsical […]
“felted garland small bird blog” was quite pleasurable and insightful!
In the present day society that is difficult to execute.
Thx, Maureen
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oh my. these are absolutely adorable. forget laundry, i think i know what my afternoon now entails…
There were around 1 lakh fake farmacia on line tablets manufactured by Chem Pharma Company was also manufacturing other drugs and
we are given a pittance in points for it.
[…] This beautiful garland from Small Bird Blog is something I’ve wanted to make for a while, and now I feel justified in starting. All of the research that I’ve done on different felting methods suggests that it can take a while to make enough balls for a garland, so since I want it finished in time to decorate my flat this year, I have to get into gear now! […]
[…] week I am sharing two types of felt garland. The first is felt ball garland, inspired by small bird, as well as Misha and Maggi who whipped these up last year. There are great tutorials on how to […]
[…] Ball 2. Twig 3. Pinecone 4. Snowflake 5. Felted Ball 6. Merry Christmas 7. Paper 8. Cardboard 9. Ornaments 10. Apple and Oranges 11. Pom Pom 12. […]
[…] 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., […]
I’m really starting to appreciate all things felted, and love the colors here. I included this in my Christmas in July roundup.
[…] Een guirlande van viltbollen staat niet alleen leuk maar is ook leuk om te maken. Vilten niet jouw ding? Pompons maken dan? […]
[…] Felted garland tutorial from Small Bird Blog […]
[…] 6. Felted Ball Garland — Small Bird […]